Picture books. We can all name favorites, but have you found the ones with the very incorrigible pigeon begging to stay up late? Or the idealistic pig and her best friend, the very practical elephant named GERALD?
Haven’t seen ’em?
Then you must go to a book store or library and find them, now. Look under “W”, for Mo Willems. Digital versions won’t do; you need the real thing.
My first encounter with Mo came when I picked up Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. Willems uses a clever combination of photography and drawings to illustrate this hilarious family situation: Daddy loses Knuffle Bunny, the beloved toy of his young daughter, Trixie. At the laundromat.
When I read “Trixie went boneless,” I knew I had found the work of a fellow parent who had a great sense of humor. (If you don’t understand “boneless”, you obviously haven’t dealt with an unhappy two-year-old. Read the book anyway. You’ll still laugh.)
The opening pages of Knuffle Bunny reveal Willems’ ability to combine kid friendly plot and humor with adult wit. First, we see a happy, bright eyed couple on their wedding day. Then we see that same couple with stubble (the guy) and bags around the eyes (both guy and girl), holding a screaming pink baby wrapped in a blanket. I always chuckle at those pictures; the kids don’t understand why.
But they love Mo’s books too, and we check them out repeatedly. I finally broke down and bought the entire Knuffle Bunnyseries in hardback so I can enjoy them whenever I want. The Piggie and Elephant books repeat words and phrases, great for beginning readers. The story never gets boring because Willems puts such humorous expressions on his characters’ faces.
In an NPR interview, Willems explained that he enjoys writing for kids because to them, everything seems big and important. That’s why his characters grapple with really difficult issues like injustice, loss, jealousy, and the desire to drive a bus.
Best of all, Willems appreciates the important role of anyone who reads aloud to kids: teachers, librarians, and especially parents. He calls us “his orchestra”, and he counts on us to be silly and zany when we read his books so that kids will see that reading is fun and books are cool.
I love this guy.
Willems has won numerous awards for his books and also six Emmys for his writing on Sesame Street. You can find more information about him and his books at his website, and you can follow “The Pigeon” on Twitter. (He’s really funny.)
Have you read any of Mo’s books? Which is your favorite? Reply in the comments below, and thanks for stopping by.
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Summer Reading: Ideas for Kids
Children’s Book Week 2012
Julia
WE love Mo Willems – there isn’t a book of his we haven’t enjoyed yet. Do you know Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed? If you don’t, DO check it out. Hilarious and mildly snarky for the grownups, great message for the kids. Well, and the grownups, too. And yes, Pigeon makes his standard cameo!
We are familiar with the mole rats! So much fun. Glad to find another Mo “fan girl”! 😉
I adore reading aloud to kids, and to adults, and to myself, and to my dog. And it never occurred to me that the author would care. I had not considered that the author would see his readers who read aloud as extensions of him, serving as his voice. Wow! Great idea and I thank him for calling us his orchestra, and you for pointing that out.
I love that the author calls adult readers his “orchestra”. What a beautiful metaphor.
It really gives significance to the role of the reader, doesn’t it? I love being part of the orchestra!
I hope you will give Mo a try!
I hadn’t heard of him until you recommended Knuffle Bunny, but he sounds FUN. Can’t wait to see some of his work.
Thanks, Julia!
It’s so fun to discover new favorites. Now I just need some grandkids in the next few years so I can read them to someone!
~Debbie